AUGUSTA – The Hyde Phoenix obviously saved their best for last.

Greater Portland Christian had rolled to a pair of regular season wins, but Saturday was a different story. Hyde won in August for the first time since 1996 with a 41-21 victory in the Western Class D quarterfinal.

“I think towards the end of the season, this is when we gel,” said Hyde coach Sally Fitch. “I think patience is why we won today. We took our time. Their press killed us in the regular season. We couldn’t break the press and we got flustered easily.”

Instead, No. 11 Hyde used its defense to overwhelm the Lions. GPC had close to 40 turnovers in the game and couldn’t muster much offense.

Adele Hayward, who missed the last game against GPC, led the Phoenix with 18 points. The Lions got 10 from Rebecca Bauer.

No. 3 Greater Portland Christian (15-4) struggled right from the outset. The Lions shot just 2-for-8 in the opening quarter and turned the ball over 10 times. By the end of the opening quarter, GPC was in a 16-7 hole.

Hyde (8-6) scored the game’s first six points. Hayward opened the game with a 3-pointer and had seven points in the quarter. In the second quarter, Flint hit two straight baskets and Hurd scored on a fast break for a 22-7 advantage.

GPC responded with its largest offensive spurt of the half with five straight points to end the half down 22-12.

GPC missed its first 13 shots of the third, and Hyde built a 15-point lead when Hurd hit a 3-pointer. Hyde shot just 1-for-12 in the quarter though, and GPC got within 10 on a Bauer trey and a rebound by Johnson. Nine straight points to start the fourth opened the lead for good.

“The key to the game was to put the pressure on them,” said Fitch. “I think the pressure was just enough to throw them off. Who knows maybe they took us lightly.”